KEY POINTS:
The next time bloodstock agent Adrian Clark contacts one of his clients about a potential racehorse purchase - they will definitely listen to his advice.
Clark had a spring in his step and a broad smile across his face following the $120,000 (Group Two) Travis Stakes at Te Rapa yesterday.
Earlier this year Clark unsuccessfully tried to convince several of his clients to buy race mare Sarajay.
Clark would not accept defeat and in January he and his wife Sherryl purchased the 6-year-old mare from Takanini trainer Trevor McKee.
The daughter of Danasinga was placed with Matamata trainer John Sargent and the change in training regime and environment has obviously worked.
Sarajay was in ruthless form, effortlessly overpowering her rivals in the Travis Stakes racing three wide then sitting outside the leader for most of the 2000m feature.
When rider Noel Harris asked her to lengthen stride with 200m remaining, the response was staggering and they burst clear of the field to win by three lengths over Lilakyn. A head away in third was Vercors.
From six starts under the ownership of the Clarks, Sarajay has scored two wins and three minor placings. Two third placings in Group One and Group Three events have added considerable value to her, as has yesterday's easy victory.
Clark backed his judgment purchasing Sarajay, a bold move considering her age,, but her recent performances have been outstanding.
"She'll be going out for a spell then we'll have to reassess everything including our racing plans for her next season and what stallion we'll breed her to," said Clark.
"Originally we were only going to nominate her for the opening two legs of the Hawke's Bay Triple Crown but looking at how she handled stepping up to 2000m today, we've got to look at the [$2 million] Kelt Capital Stakes."
Sprint filly Jazzella heads to Brisbane on Wednesday in commanding form ahead of an extensive winter racing campaign.
The athletic 3-year-old showed plenty of courage when it mattered in the home stretch at Te Rapa yesterday to withstand a determined powerful finishing burst from Electrostatic to win the $80,000 Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes.
Jazzella was handy to the speed throughout and hit the front a long way from home in the Group Three event and held on to score by a nose. A further long head away in third was Keep The Message.
"She's booked to fly to Brisbane on Wednesday and we have a number of races in mind for her throughout the Queensland winter carnival," said co-trainer Dean Logan.
"We were very pleased with her performance to win here at Te Rapa as we had given her a fairly easy time since she last raced in Sydney.
"She wasn't stripped down to peak fitness to win this but she was forward enough to get through the race.
"There are a number of fillies and mares races in Brisbane ranging in distance from 1350m to 1400m which she'll handle."
Jazzella has been a faultless performer for the Ruakaka-based stable of Donna, Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs scoring five wins and two minor placings from eight starts.
Keep The Message caught the eye with an encouraging performance to finish third, his first run following an unplaced performance in the Mercedes Derby.
